Last Updated on February 13, 2023 by Louise
Amsterdam is a great city to visit with teenagers. It’s jam packed full with amazing and interesting museums and exciting experiences. From art and culture to thrill seeking adventures to dungeons and history – there are so many attractions that will appeal to teens.
On top of this there are new food experiences, shopping, canal trips and bike rides.
What more could a teenager want from a city trip?
Discover 19 brilliant things to do with teenagers in this fun and fascinating city
Go on the “Over the Edge” attraction at A’DAM lookout.
Photo Credit: A’dam Lookout Facebook page
If you look at the top of the tower on the picture above, you can see Europe’s highest swing! At the top of the A’DAM lookout teens can dangle 100 metres above the ground, back and forth over the edge of the tower with Amsterdam below their feet!
Find out more at A’DAM Lookout.
Take a seat on the Amsterdam VR Ride
Also located at A’DAM lookout, you can go on a unique VR ride throughout Amsterdam. Experience the city while enjoying an adrenaline rush at the same time!
Visit the Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House was the home of teenage diarist Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who kept a diary while her family was hiding from the Nazis during World War 2. The museum is located in the place where she hid and lived during the Nazi occupation.
Teenagers and everybody else cannot fail to be moved by what she and her family endured. The well presented museum covers her story during the Nazi occupation. It’s a thought provoking and emotional experience.
You need to book in advance. Also be aware that there are some steep stairs in the museum.
Hang Out at Vondelpark
Vondelpark is the most famous park in Amsterdam.
It’s a beautiful park and is a great place to wander round and have a picnic. Also great for cycling and jogging.
Body Worlds
Photo Credit: Shadowgate
Body Worlds is a fascinating museum which takes you on a journey of the human body. It’s unique because it uses real human specimens which have been preserved through a process called Plastination invented by Dr. Gunther Von Hagens.
The exhibits include whole body plastinates as well as plastinates of vital organs.
Most teenagers will enjoy a visit here. It’s especially good if they are studying biology or PE.
They will enjoy the interactive elements of the museum. You can measure your body fat, blood pressure and have a body scan. There’s also swings and other fun activities.
Micropia
Micropia is another fascinating attraction which is ideal for biology students as well as teenagers who are just curious! Here you can discover the invisible world of microbes.
This museum is small but jam packed with interesting stuff. There are amazing opportunities to watch micropia under a microscope and see live ant colonies. See all kinds of bacteria and fungi and how learn how it survives in different climates and habitats.
Visit Our Lord in the Attic Museum
Photo Credit: Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder / Facebook
This unique attraction is one of the city’s oldest museums. It’s located in a bourgeois house and the museum gives a good idea of what life was like in the 17th century. The amazing thing is when you get to the top floor, the space opens up into a beautiful chapel which has views over the roofs of neighbouring houses.
The audio tour is very good. Even teenagers will be impressed!
Find out more at Our Lord in the Attic Museum
Amsterdam Dungeon
Photo Credit: Amsterdam Dungeon Facebook Page.
Amsterdam Dungeon brings to life 500 years of history through an 80 minute tour with characters (played by actors) such as the witch hunter and soul merchant.
The performances in the dungeon are great with the right amount of humour balanced with the right amount of frights. It’s perfect for a teenage audience!
Eat a Stroopwafel at Albert Cuyp Markt
Stroopwafels are hot Dutch waffles and teenagers will love to try one in Amsterdam. To make traditional Dutch stroopwafels, bakers put a layer of gooey caramel syrup between two round wafer-thin waffles, creating a chewy cookie-like dessert.
There are many street stalls in Amsterdam which sell stroopwafels. Why not wander along Albert Cuyp Markt and try a stroopwafel from one of the stalls there?
The Albert Cuypmarkt is the largest and most popular outdoor market in the Netherlands, with 260 stands operating six days a week selling everything from Vietnamese spring rolls to freshly made stroopwafels.
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussaud’s Amsterdam is packed full with wax characters of popular music and entertainment figures including movie characters (and politicians).
Canal Cruise
A canal boat trip is well worth it. Discover some of the history of Amsterdam and see the city from the water.
Rijksmuseum
If they love art, this museum is a must. It’s the museum of the Netherlands spanning the time period from the middle ages to the 20th century.
It includes art works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and more.
Find out more at Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam Zoo
There are plenty of animals to see at Amsterdam zoo including elephants, giraffes, monkeys and birds. There are also panthers and lions (although my personal opinion and that of many others is that the panthers need bigger enclosures).
There’s also a planetarium, botanical garden and butterfly pavilion.
Ripleys Believe It Or Not
Ripleys’s Believe it or Not is home to over 500 wonderful and bizarre exhibits. There’s interactive exhibits, optical illusions and mind games. Possible highlights for teens include the psychedelic moving tunnel, the world’s longest fingernails. a 7 meter high robot made of car parts and the torture room.
Bike Tour of Amsterdam – See Highlights and Hidden Gems
A bike tour with a guide is another fantastic way to see the city with teenagers.
Zip between landmarks. It’s a good way to see Amsterdam if you’re limited in time.
A guide tells you historical information and interesting facts as you go.
Van Gogh Museum
If your teenager loves art, this is Van Gogh museum to a must.
It’s home to numerous Van Gogh paintings including Sunflowers as well as works by his contemporaries including Monet.
Visit Tony’s Chocolonely Store
If you head to the Beurs van Berlarge store there’s a Tony’s ‘make your own chocolate vending machine’. You can also sample some free chocolate. There’s also a cafe here with lots of great vegan food and delicious chocolate dishes.
Worth a quick visit if you’re nearby!
Dam Square
Dam Square is lively and bustling. It’s great for people watching. There is often protests and other stuff going on. Additionally it’s full of pigeons! As you can imagine, it’s a lot like busy squares in other capital cities.
There’s restaurants and shopping nearby. Primark, a favorite for many teens is not far away.
Get Apple Pie at Winkel 43
We know how much teens like to eat. Apple pie is a local delicacy. Winkel 43 is located in Noordermarkt. It’s a great place to get to try a slice of the best apple pie.
Foodhallen
The Foodhallen is a big indoor market with lots of food stalls. It often has life music too. It’s huge, noisy and fun. Great for teens who like to eat!
This is Holland – 5D flight experience
This is the ultimate flight experience where you can get an aerial perspective on a flight simulation ride. Discover views of rural Holland without having to leave the capital. Learn about the country’s history and geography. It’s a great way for teenagers to learn more about this brilliant country.
Visit the Windmills
It’s very easy to take a train from Amsterdam and visit the windmills. Use the sprinter train in the direction of Uitgeest and get off at Zaanse Schans, Zaandam. It’s a 20 minutes train ride and a 10 minute walk from the station to the windmills.
It’s also just as easy to take a bus to see the windmills. Take bus 391, it takes 40 minutes and Zaanse Schans is the final stop
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